US President Donald Trump has once again raised the possibility of a direct conversation with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te.
May 21, 2026, 07:54May 21, 2026, 07:54
Asked whether he planned to call him before making his decision on possible further US arms sales to Taiwan, Trump told reporters on Wednesday: “I’ll talk to him. I talk to everyone.” The USA has the situation “very well under control,” Trump continued. There was a great meeting with China’s state and party leader Xi Jinping last week. “We will work on it, on the Taiwan problem.”
A possible direct conversation is likely to trigger sharp criticism in Beijing. Trump would thereby deviate from a decades-old practice. The United States established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1979, ending its official diplomatic relations with the government in Taipei. Since then, as far as is publicly known, there has not been a telephone conversation between a sitting US president and his counterpart in Taiwan. Beijing claims ownership of the island state, which has been governed democratically for decades.
A direct conversation between Trump and Lai Ching-te would be an affront to China.Image: keystone
Arms deliveries anger Beijing
However, the USA continued to maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan and supported the island in its defense capabilities – primarily through arms deliveries. A possible new US arms package for Taiwan worth up to 14 billion US dollars (around 12 billion euros) is currently causing tensions.
During Trump’s visit to Beijing last week, Xi emphasized that dealing with Taiwan was crucial for the stability of the major powers’ bilateral relations. Trump then said on the flight back from Beijing that he wanted to speak to Lai. It was initially unclear whether this was a spontaneous remark.
After Trump’s comments, Lai said he would make it clear in such a conversation that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are central to security and prosperity in the region. At the same time, Lai accused China of exacerbating tensions with ongoing military exercises. China is the main source of instability in the region. (sda/dpa)